General Sir Arthur Currie Award Dinner 2023

Please join Valour Canada at the 2023 General Sir Arthur Currie Award dinner where we will honour Mr. Murray McCann, a well-known community leader, founder of Field of Crosses, and an outstanding entrepreneur, for his service to Calgary and Canada.

Mr. Murray McCann, Recipient of the 2023 General Sir Arthur Currie Award

MURRAY MCCANN is a visionary entrepreneur and leader who reinvests his success back into the community serving some of society’s most vulnerable through funding from his charitable foundation and aided by hundreds of volunteers. Widely recognized for his selfless generosity, he continues to make a difference here at home and abroad.

“When you think someone should do something about that, recognize that you are someone.”

Over its long lifespan Murray’s holding company Aristos Capital Corporation, acquired, developed and divested operations in Canada, USA, Malaysia, India and China in such diverse industries as gypsum board manufacturing, sodium sulphate mining, flue gas desulfurization, oil and gas exploration, software development, automotive sales and service, land and real estate development, wholesale distribution of building materials and industrial supplies, health & fitness facilities and food services.
Murray, both privately and through the McCann Family Foundation, has funded a myriad of causes in Canada, USA and Zambia. With business now his secondary interest, he spends his non-leisure time on philanthropic activities.

Thirteen years ago McCann launched the Field of Crosses Memorial Project. Each year from November 1st to November 11th 3,620 individual crosses, bearing the name of a soldier from Southern Alberta who made the ultimate sacrifice, are spread over a 5-acre park in faux cemetery style. Over the eleven days more than 20,000 people visit the park to stroll among the crosses or attend one of the 23 memorial services. The Remembrance Day service on November 11th is televised live allowing thousands more to attend the service. For 10 years Murray supported this initiative as his personal memorial before turning it into a registered charity to carry on long after he is gone. It was gifted to The Field of Crosses foundation on his 80th birthday to assure its continuance long into the future.

2023 General Sir Arthur Currie Award Event Details: 

• Date: Monday, April 17th | Reception: 5:30 pm | Dinner: 7:00 pm
• Location:  Calgary Golf & Country Club (Directions)
• Dress code: Business Formal Attire with Military Medals (Optional)

Cost:  Tables (10 seats) can be purchased for $2,500 and individual tickets for $250. Tax receipts will be issued for 50% of the cost.

Sponsorship opportunities are available:

We accept purchases and sponsorships by cheque or by credit card:
• If paying by cheque, please mail a cheque to: 1820 24 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2T 0G6.
• If paying by credit card, please call (403) 685-2660 with your credit card information.
• If paying online, please click this link or the “Support” button below.

If you have any questions, please contact Valour Canada at contact@valourcanada.ca, or call (403) 685-2660.

The General Sir Arthur Currie Award was initiated in 2006 to recognize Canadians who, by demonstrating leadership and determination, have made an outstanding contribution to Canadian military heritage and community. In 2014, Valour Canada commissioned Studio West to produce the award: a bronze statue of General Sir Arthur Currie upon his horse, Brock.

The 2019 event was highlighted by the presentation of the General Sir Arthur Currie Award to Commander Chuck Mawer.

For their services to the Canadian military community, we have awarded the General Sir Arthur Currie Award to the following recipients in previous years:
2019 – Commander Chuck Mawer
2017 – Royal Canadian Legion
2015 – MCpl (Ret’d) Jody Mitic & Sgt Alannah Gilmore
2014 – Daryl “Doc” Seaman
2009 – Stanley A. Milner
2008 – Capt(N) (Ret’d) William H. Wilson
2007 – Jack Lawrence Granatstein
2006 – Fred P. Mannix